The role of soil organic matter in maintaining the productivity and yield stability of cereals in China

• Published in: Agriculture, ecosystems & environment ecosystems & environment, 2009, Vol.129 (1), p.344-348
• Main Authors: Pan, Genxing, Smith, Pete, Pan, Weinan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: agricultural soils; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; C sequestration; carbon sequestration; Cereal production; crop acreage; Cropland productivity; food security; Food security of China; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agroecology; General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; geographical variation; grain crops; grain yield; Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology; Medical sciences; Nutritional survey. Food supply and nutritional requirement; soil organic carbon; Soil organic matter; temporal variation; yield stability
• ISSN: 0167-8809; 1873-2305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2008.10.008

The role of soil organic matter (SOM) in agricultural systems has been widely studied in conjunction with the potential for greenhouse gas mitigation. However, the link between SOM accumulation in croplands, crop productivity and yield stability has not yet been clearly established. In this paper, we collected data on provincial yearly crop productivity (yields, total cropland area) during 1949–1998 and the average SOM contents in croplands sampled and determined from the National Soil Survey in 1979–1982 of mainland China. The cereal productivity was assessed both with an overall mean of 1949–1998 and with the mean values for different time periods within this overall time, respectively. The yield variability within a single stabilizing stage, and between the fluctuating years, was calculated as a negative measure of yield stability. The correlation between SOM and cereal productivity was very significant for most provinces, but the relationship has become less significant as we approach the present. Moreover, the average yield variability was very significantly and negatively correlated with the cropland SOM level. The findings support our previous hypothesis from case studies, that C sequestration in China's croplands may provide win–win benefits, by enhancing crop productivity and stabilizing yield. This offers a sound basis as a greenhouse gas mitigation strategy by promoting C sequestration in croplands, and enhancing food security in China's agriculture.